Page 78 of Safe in the Earl's Arms
‘You plan to live the rest of your life alone?’ she asked, feeling each word jar into her heart. And she would live the rest of her life with the memory of him remaining in her mind and she’d wonder if he’d ever put the betrayal behind him. She doubted he could. If she thought he would, she might proceed differently. Because she would never forget the Earl of Warrington. And she didn’t even know his given name.
‘I think it best.’ He didn’t look up from his writing.
She stared at the bent head and didn’t believe he was unaware of her. But she was being dismissed. Just like the child he thrust from him.
The wind pushed against the house. But it wasted its time. The house was Warrington’s. Immovable. Closed tight. And very dark.
Warrington’s head jerked up and his eyes narrowed, but he listened. The noise wasn’t only the wind, but someone at the door.
Warrington stood. ‘Sounds like someone trying to break inside.’ Grabbing a lamp, he hastened to the stairs.
Broomer had a flintlock at his side, but he’d opened the door to Ludgate. The frail man stood at the threshold. He looked to the top of the stairs. ‘I must speak with you privately.’
Warrington waved an arm, sending Broomer on his way, and gave a nod to Ludgate. They moved back into the sitting room. Ludgate followed and stood just inside the door. Melina saw scratch marks across his jaw. He clasped something hidden in his hand and he paced in place, the crutch tapping along beside his leg.
Ludgate collapsed on to the sofa and pulled the crutch to him, resting his forehead on the wrapped top of the wood. His eyes were closed. ‘I am so sorry, Warrington. So sorry. I had no idea.’
‘I am making sure Willa is cared for.’ Warrington’s voice cut the air. ‘You do not have to concern yourself with her ever again. In fact, you will not be allowed to.’
‘I am not talking of that.’ His head moved when he spoke. The sound of Ludgate’s breathing drowned the sound of the wind outside.
‘I saw...’ He paused, finding words, holding a bottle. ‘Daphne was too quiet when we returned home. Daphne is...no different than Cassandra in her own way. When I first heard of your back being hurt, I wondered. But Cass was no longer alive. That left only Daphne. I thought she might try to kill me, but never you. And I had never suspected the illness in your house anything but a fever until tonight. I only suspected Daphne of wanting me dead. Nothing else.’
He raised his eyes. ‘Arsenic poisoning can look like cholera. Daphne had a bottle of the poison. I rarely live in the house, but tonight I did not leave. When she stirred in the night, I listened. I pried a bottle of arsenic from her fingers. Meant for me and I knew it. She said...’ He paused. ‘She’d decided since you weren’t going to kill me, she’d have to do so. Especially after I told her I would send her to the country because I believed she knew of Cassandra poisoning your father and did nothing to prevent it or to discourage her.’
Ludgate gulped out the words. ‘She killed Cassandra. When Daphne returned home Cassandra died shortly after. And when I confronted Daphne tonight, she told me. She said they called the powder their guarantee of a happy marriage.’
‘But why didn’t Daphne kill Cass before Willa’s birth?’
‘She didn’t expect... They were together every day and she didn’t believe at first that the child was mine. I assured her it could not be possible. She didn’t think her sister or I could betray her so. When Cassandra left, the baby came too early. Daphne knew the child couldn’t have been yours and it had to have been conceived earlier. She knew the dates. And the girl’s name was a slap. But Cassandra wouldn’t see her. When Daphne received the letter from her sister telling of the chance of another child, Daph visited without telling Cassandra first. She said she had emptied a bottle of the Fowler’s Solution medicinal she found at your house and put the poison in it, then told the lady’s maid to be sure that Cassandra was given Fowler’s Solution as it would ease her discomfort. I didn’t know the truth until now, but I suspected. I’ve hardly stayed in the same house with Daphne since the little girl was born because she made my life a nightmare. I didn’t suspect she wanted you to kill me, and when you didn’t, she went for what she called the marriage powder. Till death do us part, she said. She claims it is why the vows are written such.’
‘Will you tell the magistrate?’
Ludgate shook his head. ‘No. I am the only one who heard her words. She can easily lie that she said nothing. That I did it. The footmen and butler have her contained now. She’s still raging—at me—for the betrayal. I don’t want her hanged. I will see she is confined to Bedlam. It is only my word and hers, and I do not want this to become known. I told the servants she has lost her senses and it is the truth.’ Ludgate spoke quietly. ‘The little girl should not have the spectre of this following her. The truth is bad enough, and what if it is embellished even more? Do whatever you want with the child and send an accounting to my man of affairs. The funds will be paid. I don’t care.’
